Roller-skate



J. D. UPPLING.

ROLLER SKATE."

APPLICATION FILED DEC, H, 1918.

Patented June 29, 1920.

Zirrreaa ea W A JOSEP H D. UPPLING, OF ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROLLER-SKATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 1%, 1918. Serial No. 266,235.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosEPH D. UPPLING,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Roxbury, in the county of Sufi'olk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The prese t invention relates to newand useful imprdliements in roller skates, more particularly 0 that type including a wheeled skate body having a heel plate hingedly' mounted thereon whereby relative movement of the foot and skate body is permitted so that the skates may be propelled withoutthe necessity of liftlng the skates from the ground in the flexing movement of the operators legs.

It is in general the object of the present invention to simplify the structure-and to increase the efliciency of'skates of this character and also to lessen the strain imposed on the operator by simulating in the skating operation the ordinary walking movement.

It is more particularlythe object to provide an arrangementwhereby the operators foot is permitted its normal flexure at the ball joint.

A still further object is to provide for the exertion of a maximum propelling force alternately for. the skates in the skating action, by preventing retrograde movement of the skates.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

' In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the skate embodying the present invention and showing the operators foot resting flatly thereon.

Fig. 2 is a similar viewbut showing the relation of the foot in a rearward position of the skate.

F ig; 3 is a plan view of the skate.

Fig. '4 is a transverse sectional view through the s te on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a etail perspective view of the pawl'for preventing retrograde movement of the rearskate wheel.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanylng drawings, 10 designates the maln frame or body of the skate, which in the present instance comprises an elongated plate having its end portions upwardly inclined and bifurcated to provide forks 11 mounting front and rear ground wheels 12 and 13 respectively, these wheels being in actual practice about four inclies in diameter and carrying rubber tires 14, and while no particular journals are shown for the wheels,

Patented June 29, 1920.

it will be understood that they are of the usual ball-bearing type. 4

Secured by hinges 15 to the body plate is a second 'or heel plate 16, the hinges 15 being disposed a slight distance forwardly of the center of the body plate and approximating the position of the ball joint of the operators foot when resting thereon, the plate 16 extending rearwardly from said hinges throughout the extent ofthe operators foot and terminates in an upturned flan e 17 engageable with the operators heel. portions of the sides of the heel plate also carry upstanding lugs 19 for securing a strap 18 adapted to extend over the instep of the shoe.

lugs 20 carrying a strap 21 for enga ement with the toe portion of the shoe. pward movement of the heel plate 16 relative to the body plate is limited by a bolt 22 depending from the plate 16 through an opening in the body plate and having a stop nut 23 threaded on its lower'e'nd.

Retrograde movement of the rear wheel is prevented bya ratchet wheel 24 secured thereto which is engageable by -a pawl, 25 intermediately pivoted to the adjacent fork furcation 11 of the body plate. The rear end of the pawl is-engageable with the under portion of the wheel and the forward end of the pawl is weighted to hold the first named end in such engagement, said forhe rear' Upstandin at the sides'of the body plate forwardly o the hinges 15 are ward end of the pawl being engageable by tion 11 to limit pa'wl..

An exceedingly simple skate structure is pivotal movement of the a stop arm 26 upstanding from the furca thus provided which maybe operated with a maximum of ease, by the elimination of by reason of the disposition of hinges 15 thereunder, the skating movement is renderedsimilar' to an ordinary walking movement and hence does not bring into play any special muscular action.

What is claimed'is':

1. A skate comprising a main frame including a body plate and ground wheels, a

heel plate hinged to the intermediate portion of the body plate and extending rearwardly ,thereover, means for engagingthe shoe carried by said hinged plate, and means for engaging the shoe carried by the main frame forwardly of the hinge.

2. In a roller skate, the combination with a body plate having a slot through it near its rear end, forks at its extremities, rollers .Inounted'in said forks, and pawl-and ratchet mechanism for preventing retrograde move-- ment of one roller; ofa heel plate hinged to the body plate at a p'oint'to stand beneath the ball joint of the foot, the heel plate having an upstanding. flange to engage the heel, means for clamping the heel plate beneath the heel, means for clam ing the body plate beneath the toe of t eshoe, and a bolt depending from the heel plate through said slot and headed at its lower end, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa- I vture, in the presence of two witnesses.

- JOSEPH D. UPPLING.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. Cnorr, i HARRY C. BYRNS. 

